The Big 4 Restaurant returns to Nob Hill this week

The dining room of the Big 4 restaurant is seen at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

The dining room of the Big 4 restaurant is seen at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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The dining room of the Big 4 at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

The dining room of the Big 4 at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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Executive chef Kevin Scott is seen outside of the Big 4 restaurant at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

Executive chef Kevin Scott is seen outside of the Big 4 restaurant at the newly renovated Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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Lamps illuminate tables in the dining room of the Big 4.

Lamps illuminate tables in the dining room of the Big 4.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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A bronze casting of a bear and the California state seal are displayed in the Big 4.

A bronze casting of a bear and the California state seal are displayed in the Big 4.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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A bust of Collis P. Huntington is displayed in the bar of the Big 4.

A bust of Collis P. Huntington is displayed in the bar of the Big 4.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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The dining room of the Big 4.

The dining room of the Big 4.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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The Big 4 menu covers.

The Big 4 menu covers.

Photo: Facebook

The Big 4 Restaurant returns to Nob Hill this week

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On May 6, the Big 4 Restaurant will return to San Francisco.

The one-of-a-kind Nob Hill restaurant and bar has been closed since January, part of the Huntington Hotel’s $15 million renovation under Singapore-based owners Grace International. The hotel has been rebranded as the Scarlet Huntington, by the way.

But the Big 4 remained largely untouched, as promised. In fact, the Puccini Group — which is operating the restaurant — even decided to keep the white tablecloths after all.

One of the more notable changes is in the kitchen, where Kevin Scott has replaced longtime chef Gloria Ciccarone-Nehls.

Scott — a veteran of Scala’s Bistro and Bar Jules — just started last week, so he’ll ease into the position. To start, he’ll put his takes on many of the American dishes that were at the Big 4 before (chicken paillard, New York steak, etc.), with the hope attracting a more modern audience, while retaining many of the regulars. It’s a challenge being faced by several classic San Francisco restaurants being remade for the modern era — including Schroeder’s, also opening this week.

“Some of the classics are getting refined, and a little less butter-heavy, less intensely old school,” Scott says of the menu at the Big 4. “I’m market driven, and I think that’s a little bit of a departure from what was going on in the past here. For me, the potential here is so exciting.”

That said, Scott says they have to be conscious of the history.

“We’re being really careful to not break apart the model of what it is,” he says. “It is so great how it is. It is a masculine room, with the dark greens and dark woods. When you start taking away tablecloths, or taking away too many elements, it starts to fall apart.”

And yes, the grand piano will be back, too.

The Big 4 will open on Tuesday, May 6 for breakfast and dinner; lunch is expected to begin later this month.